Highs and lows of an Australian cricket great

Still 11 days shy of his 21st birthday, Ponting becomes the 366th man to wear the baggy green with his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Perth. Ponting made 96 but was denied a century by a dubious lbw decision.

Ricky Ponting poses with a replica of the Ashes urn after day five of the third Test in Perth in 2006. Photo: Getty Images

MAIDEN TEST 100, July 1997

Ponting was dropped after three failures against the West Indies in 1996 but regained his place in the next year's Ashes series. He celebrated his recall in Leeds by making 127 as Australia crushed England.

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In a humiliating low, Ponting was handed a three-match ban after being in a fight outside a Kings Cross nightclub in Sydney. Sporting a black eye, he fronted a press conference and admitted he had a problem with alcohol. It was the turning point in his career.

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THE ROAD BACK, March 1999

Dumped from the Test side during the 1998 Ashes series, Ponting fought back in the Caribbean with a century after being recalled for the third Test. Australia lost but Ponting was never dropped again.

The epic series of 2001 was not a happy time for Ponting as Indian firebrand Harbhajan Singh claimed the Australian's wicket cheaply five out of five times. In a horror tour, Ponting made scores of 0, 6, 0, 0 and 11.

BECOMES ODI CAPTAIN, February 2002

Ponting is elevated to the captaincy of the ODI side, in front of vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, after Australia's failure to qualify for the finals of the tri-series costs Steve Waugh his job. He is now firm favourite to succeed Waugh long-term in the Test side as well.

2003 WORLD CUP

Australia started the tournament in disarray but successfully defended the World Cup after winning all 11 matches in South Africa. Ponting starred with a brutal 140 not out off 121 balls. It is arguably his finest achievement as captain.

PEAK OF HIS POWERS, 2003

Ponting sets a record for most Test runs in a calendar year by an Australian, with 1503 runs from 11 Tests at a Bradman-esque average of 100.2. He also joins Don Bradman as the only player to hit three double centuries in a calendar year.

REPLACES WAUGH AS TEST CAPTAIN, 2004

As expected, Ponting succeeded Steve Waugh as captain after the 2003-04 summer and celebrated his first Test series in charge with a 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka. Australia reaffirm their No.1 status by winning theirwins its next five series.

2005 ASHES

Australia's first Ashes loss in more than 18 years. Ponting held his own with the bat but faced criticism over his captaincy and was embroiled in controversy after he was run out by substitute fieldsman Gary Pratt. The image of him bleeding after being struck in the face by Steve Harmison was poignant.

ASHES REGAINED, 2006-07

It had been one of the most anticipated fights for the urn but there was no repeat of the memorable contest of 2005 as Ponting led Australia to its first Ashes whitewash in 85 years. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer announce their retirements during the series.

2007 WORLD CUP

Ponting leads Australia to a third straight World Cup, in the Caribbean. Just as they did in 2003, the Australians were undefeated, stretching their unbeaten World Cup run to 29 matches.

2008 SCG TEST

Australia's effort to win 16 consecutive Tests and equal the record set by Steve Waugh's team was marred by a controversial finish in Sydney against India. The Indians were upset with what they perceived as Australia's poor sportsmanship, while the hosts accused Harbhajan Singh of racism towards Andrew Symonds.

2009 ASHES

Australia's surrender of the urn meant Ponting became the first Australian captain since Billy Murdoch in 1890 to lose two Ashes series in England. His run-out at The Oval in the final Test ended Australia's hopes. He would not get another chance to make amends in England.

2010-11 ASHES

Ponting's final fling as Test captain proved an unmitigated disaster as the English inflicted an unprecedented three innings victories to win its first Ashes series in Australia in 24 years. Ponting missed the final match with a broken finger. The humiliation sparked an in-depth review of Australian cricket.

LOSING THE CAPTAINCY, 2011

Ponting's reign as Australian captain ended after an unhappy World Cup campaign that saw his team out in the quarter-finals. Ponting made a defiant ton in his last game in charge.

THE INDIAN SUMMER, 2011-12

A resurgent Ponting turned the clock back with a vintage series against India last summer to keep his place in the Test team. He had been under serious scrutiny after moderate series against South Africa and New Zealand.

THE END, 2012

A strong start to the Shield season fuelled hopes Ponting would reach the 2013 Ashes but it unravelled spectacularly against world No.1 South Africa. After scores of 0, 4 and 16 Ponting read the writing and pulled stumps on a decorated career.